Melanie Thompson is a full-time college student majoring in social work. She works to raise awareness about the pervasiveness and harm of all forms of commercial sexual exploitation and advocates for changes in anti-trafficking law and policy with a wide range of abolitionist organizations including but not limited to: The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, Sanctuary for Families, World Without Exploitation, the New York State Anti-Trafficking Coalition (NYSATC), and Not On My Watch, Inc.

Her tireless work to educate legislators and the public about child sex trafficking contributed significantly to the unanimous passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act by the New York State Legislature in 2015.

A survivor of domestic sex trafficking, Ms. Thompson is still in the foster care system and draws on her experiences as a child and young adult to help others who have also experienced commercial sexual exploitation. Upon obtaining her LCSW degree, she hopes to open a non-profit organization assisting victims of human trafficking.

The Scelles Foundation is part of "Manhattan Murals for Freedom" against Child Sex Trafficking and Labor, organized by Street Art for Mankind with the French Permanent Mission to the UN. Read more

From all over the world the artists will create unique wall paintings, based on the true stories of child victims. The replicas will be exposed with more arts work at the UN during the “UN-JI” Exhibition. Read more

SAM organizes its second awareness-raising campaign to combat sex trafficking and labor of children in partnership with the French Mission to the UN. Read more

As a partner of the campaign, the French Mission will open its doors to the UN-JI Exhibition including the Scelles Foundation’s mural for freedom. Read more